As James Longoni’s sparklingly restored Dodge ½-ton pickup seen here clearly demonstrates, by 1960, the outlines of the modern pickup truck had been drawn. Stylishness and a rising level of creature comforts would increasingly be expected. America’s hardy workhorse was being turned into a polished thoroughbred.

The original Chevrolet Impala Super Sport was a trendsetter, and from 1961 through 1969 the nameplate adorned some fast-and-fantastic Chevy hardtops and convertibles. But as classic muscle peaked, interest in full-size performance gave way to luxury.

by Don Sikora

Jeep’s compact Cherokee and Wagoneer proved popular after their debuts for 1984, and parent AMC was already working on a larger replacement when Chrysler bought the company in 1987. Chrysler had other priorities, so it took until the 1993 model year for the replacement to go on sale. At that point the decision was made to keep the old type in production and position the new vehicle upmarket as the Grand Cherokee and Grand Wagoneer.

Part car and part truck, the sedan delivery had been on the American motoring scene since the late Twenties. It was a convenient and fairly economical vehicle for tradesmen and small-business operators whose hauling needs didn’t warrant the use of a large truck or required a more genteel presence.

The quixotic tale of a doomed luxury car and an interview with a veteran car designer turned out to be golden opportunities for two freelance contributors to Collectible Automobile® magazine, a companion publication to Consumer Guide® Automotive. Read more...

When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in North Dakota needed three tough station wagons that could go anywhere in the wilds of the Northern plains, it chose the 1954 International R-140 with four-wheel drive. Why the Corps needed three such wagons is a mystery.

Packard’s policy of gradual styling changes helped it to maintain a gold standard of resale value and allowed owners to keep their cars longer without looking dated. This linear styling policy served Packard well until the Forties. By then, though, American car design was changing at an incredible rate. Packard’s unhurried design evolution couldn’t keep up with the pace, and by ’41, its cars looked old fashioned.

Since news of “dieselgate” broke in September 2015, Volkswagen’s TDI diesel engines and the software that enabled emissions-test cheats have received tremendous attention. It’s probably an understatement that the resulting avalanche of bad press has overshadowed the company’s new-product news.

by Don Sikora

Back in the December 2007 issue of Collectible Automobile® we considered the 1995-99 first-generation Oldsmobile Aurora as cheap wheels. Now let’s take a look at the second—and as it turned out, last—Aurora.